With three teenaged boys and a 10-year-old girl at home, Imelda says any food they receive at North Texas Food Bank partner Manna House Midlothian makes a difference.
“To be honest, sometimes we don’t have enough for food, so this help means a lot,” Imelda says.
Imelda explained that her husband’s hours have recently been cut back but their rent, light and water bills remain the same—or are higher each month than they were the last.
A coworker told Imelda about the NTFB partner in their area and encouraged her to visit the pantry.
On her first visit, she was greeted by staff and walked through the pantry by a volunteer who encouraged her to pick out canned foods, pasta, rice, beans and other foods that her family might enjoy. She also received meat, fresh produce and milk.
“I’m thankful there are places like this that can help you,” she says. “May God bless you for providing this food. I have no words other than, thank you—thank you so much and hopefully you are able to help more people. There are a lot of people in need.”
North Texas Food Bank’s 26th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser returns to the Perot Family Campus on February 26 with tasty fare from nearly 20 area chefs and restaurants.
This year’s celebrity chef is Nikky Phinyawatana, founder and chef of the popular Asian Mint restaurant group in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Known for her thoughtful approach to Thai cuisine, she has earned honors such as Dallas Eater’s #1 Best Thai Food and a spot on CultureMap’s Top 100 Restaurants list. In 2024, she debuted her cookbook, Thai Food and Travel with Chef Nikky. She launched her own signature sauces, now available at Asian Mint locations, online, and at Central Market stores throughout Dallas. Her passion for sharing bold flavors and authentic experiences brings a special energy to this year’s Empty Bowls event. Other featured restaurants include:
Celebration Restaurant & Catering
Red Stix and Chef Uno Catering
The Texas Barn at Circle T Ranch
Along with food, the evening will feature art demonstrations, drinks and the chance to select a handcrafted bowl as a reminder of NTFB’s vision to ensure everyone has food with which to fill their bowls.
Since its inception, Empty Bowls guests and sponsors have raised more than $3 million, helping provide over 9 million meals for children, families and older adults across our 12-county service area.
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With several snow days ahead of them in late January, neighbors Vivian and Madeleine decided to use their free time to give back to those facing hunger in their community.
Vivian approached her friend with the idea and the two had soon created a plan to sell chocolate covered marshmallows and chocolate chip cookies—one of Madeleine’s specialties—to support North Texas Food Bank. The Richardson ISD fourth graders enlisted the help of their younger brothers, first graders Asher and Graham, and headed to the kitchen.
Once their treats were finished, the group took them out into the icy weather to sell to their neighbors, with the girls manning a table while the boys went door-to-door.
“We just told people that every dollar we raised would help someone,” said Vivian, who added that she wanted to help provide food because she knows it can be harder to access in the winter, especially for people who are facing homelessness.
Their neighbors were excited to support the kids, with several paying for a cookie or marshmallow with a $20 bill.
At the end of their second snow day of sales, they had raised nearly $200, or enough to provide close to 600 meals for the 1 in 6 North Texans experiencing hunger.
Mom Lindsey said the kids had heard about North Texas Food Bank during school projects and pitched the idea of a fundraiser all on their own. They took walkie talkies outside so they could stay in contact and spent hours out in the cold selling their goodies.
“We’re so proud of them,” she said. “They came up with the idea and ran with it.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Freeze Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6
INGREDIENTS:
- 6 pretzel rods
- 1 cup Low-Fat Greek Yogurt Vanilla
- ¼ cup pistachios, shelled and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup freeze dried raspberries, broken into small pieces
- ¼ cup mini semi sweet or dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup rice crispy cereal (or other granular cereals, oats, or granola)
DIRECTIONS:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dip the pretzel rod into the yogurt and use a small spoon or spatula to scoop and evenly spread yogurt to desired height.
- While lifting the yogurt dipped pretzel over an empty plate, sprinkle desired toppings on to yogurt. Be sure to gently press toppings into the yogurt so they stay in place.
- Arrange finished yogurt dipped pretzels onto the parchment lined baking sheet so they are about 1 inch apart.
- Freeze for 3 hours and enjoy. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the freezer for up to one week.
Recipe created and photographed by Quyen Pham, NTFB Nutrition Education Specialist.
The post Add Yogurt Dipped Pretzel Rods to Your Snack Lineup first appeared on North Texas Food Bank.]]>
Students and families at Buckner Terrace Montessori will continue to have reliable access to nutritious food through their campus thanks to a collaboration between Children’s Health and North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).
Children’s Health has long been a supporter of NTFB and its work to fill the gap for children facing hunger. This year, it directed its donation toward Buckner Terrace Montessori’s School Pantry as an extension of the work the hospital is already doing to support the well-being of children and families at the campus.
Prior to the School Pantry, Children’s Health already was deeply connected to Buckner Terrace Montessori through its school-based Telemedicine and Medical Explorer’s Day programs. It was when they learned Buckner Terrace was also a partner of NTFB—where Children’s Health has supported over 1 million meals—that the health system knew they wanted to support families at the school in another way.
The Buckner Terrace Montessori School Pantry is one of over 40 in NTFB’s network. The pantries are meant to provide direct and consistent access to nutritious food for families who are facing hunger, with the ultimate goal of not only nourishing children but also equipping them to succeed in the classroom.
Decades of clinical research show that reliable access to healthy food is foundational to a child’s development, growth, ability to learn and overall well-being.
The Children’s Health 2025 Beyond ABC report found that nearly 1 in 5 Texas children experience food insecurity. And data from Feeding America shows that in Dallas County, nearly 162,400 children, or 1 in 4, face hunger.
Said Trisha Cunningham, NTFB President and CEO, “We are deeply grateful to Children’s Health for their longstanding relationship and for this critical support of Buckner Terrace Montessori’s School Pantry. Having access to nutritious food is crucial for children to learn, grow and thrive. We’re only able to do what we do in the fight against child hunger because of the support of organizations like Children’s Health.”
A leader from Children’s, Jennifer Clark, Senior Director of Health Equity, also recently joined NTFB’s Advisory Council.
While the approach and operations of North Texas Food Bank may have evolved through the years, panelists at the February Full Plate Society Legacy Luncheon say NTFB’s mission to close the hunger gap has always remained at the center.
“Whatever it took to close the gap is what we became,” said Frank Roby, former NTFB Board Chair. “And that is still what’s driving us—we have to do what needs to be done and it has to be done well because the mission is so important.”
Frank and former NTFB Board Chair John Beckert spoke during the February 2 Luncheon that was hosted at Park City Club. The panel was moderated by NTFB Chief Engagement Officer Annam Manthiram with an introduction by NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham. Sponsored by John R. Sewell, the event brought together board members and committed supporters of the food bank, including those who’ve included NTFB as part of their planned giving. John and Frank reflected on their decades of involvement with NTFB, its growth over the years and how the food bank fits into their own legacies.
John, who has served with each of NTFB’s three CEOs, discussed how NTFB has pivoted over the years, including during COVID-19. John said while the pandemic certainly presented challenges, it raised the profile of NTFB as a “capable leader that was going to solve problems.”
Before COVID-19, NTFB charged a handling fee to its agency partners for food. Since then, due in part to the generosity of the North Texas community during and after COVID, NTFB has provided food at no cost to its partners.
“We were smart enough to evolve,” he says, adding that the pandemic also made clear how efficient and effective NTFB is in distributing food since every $1 donated helps provide three meals.
Frank said as people look at where they will give, their church and their alma mater are often the first two places they go. However, he said, as NTFB has focused on its mission, it also has created a place where everyone can contribute, whether as a volunteer sorting and boxing food, as a donor or as an advocate.
“The beauty of the North Texas Food Bank is that it gives us all a place to belong,” Frank said.
John agreed and said while he and his family are happy to count NTFB as part of their legacy, he knows they’re just a piece of NTFB’s long history of serving neighbors facing hunger.
“The food bank is going to be around for a long time, so if we can make a small impact, that’s more important than our own legacy,” he said.
Frank echoed his sentiments about NTFB’s longevity, emphasizing that he expects the food bank will only continue to evolve as it focuses on its mission and the neighbors it serves.
“Our mission to close the gap is just as relevant today as it was then,” Frank says. “We’re now in a place where the original mission will be able to take us into places that we might not even have imagined yet.”
Locals can support North Texas Food Bank this February by dining out at one of their favorite FB Society restaurants.
The award-winning hospitality brand is launching a partnership with North Texas Food Bank by kicking off Foodbank February, a month-long campaign where FB Society will donate 10% of all sales every Tuesday in February from all 17 North Texas locations to support hunger relief efforts.
“At FB Society, we’re passionate about creating experiences around the table—it’s what we love to do,” said Jack Gibbons, CEO of FB Society. “But right here in North Texas, thousands of people are struggling to put food on the table. These aren’t strangers, they’re the families living down the street, the kids in our schools, the people we pass every day. It’s heartbreaking. That’s why we’re partnering with North Texas Food Bank to give our neighbors a lifeline and make a real impact on hunger in our community.”
Restaurants participating in the campaign include:
- Sixty Vines in Plano and Dallas
- Whiskey Cake locations in Las Colinas, Plano and Fort Worth
- Haywire in Dallas and Plano
- Mexican Sugar locations in Addison, Plano, Dallas and Las Colinas
- Ida Claire in Addison
- The Ranch at Las Colinas
- Son of a Butcher locations in Dallas, Grapevine and Fort Worth
- Legacy Food Hall in Plano
Patrons can also give by adding a donation to their check or by rounding up their purchase at Legacy Food Hall in Plano.
The support comes at a critical time. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex now ranks third in the country for the number of people facing hunger, and Texas leads the nation with more food-insecure individuals than any other state. In the 12 counties served by North Texas Food Bank, over 744,000 people face hunger, including 1 in 5 children.
“We are grateful for this generous partnership with FB Society and its restaurants. With Texas leading the nation in hunger, and 1 in 6 individuals not always knowing where their next meal will come from, every gift made as part of FB Society’s Foodbank February will make a critical impact for our neighbors facing hunger,” said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of North Texas Food Bank.
Find out more about Foodbank February or support the campaign here.
The post Foodbank February Gives FB Society Diners the Chance to Give Back to NTFB first appeared on North Texas Food Bank.]]>
Network of Community Ministries is picking up around 22,000 pounds of food each week from retail partners with a new box truck purchased through the support of a North Texas Food Bank grant.
The NTFB agency partner celebrated the new refrigerated box truck, which was also supported by the Hoblitzelle Foundation, during a ribbon cutting in January.
“With this truck we will be able to distribute more food, reach more families and respond more efficiently to the growing needs in our community,” said Network President and CEO Celeste Sneeze. “Today we celebrate progress, partnership and the collective effort that it takes to fight food insecurity.”
The truck is primarily used to pick up donations of groceries from 11 NTFB retail partners that provide produce, dairy, bread and more each week.
Neighbors Belinda and Dean, pictured above, say they’re appreciative of everything they receive from Network, particularly any fresh produce from partner retail stores.
“We always look for healthy food,” says Belinda, who lives on a fixed income because of a disability. Adds Dean, “We also try to get milk and eggs. This means we’ll have food to eat, it sure is a blessing.”
Ashley Edling, Director of Development at Network, said the truck will also improve Network’s ability to respond in emergency situations, such as the 2024 boil water notice issued in Richardson after a water tower experienced pressure issues. When the issue occurred, Network had to make multiple trips to NTFB to pick up water for residents because it only had a smaller truck. Now, that could be done efficiently in one trip.
In addition to the truck, the NTFB grant supported shelving in a van that’s used for the delivery of meals to about 80 homebound seniors each month.
Jessica Orsino-Jordan, Manager of Partner Grants for NTFB, said the grant is a great example of how investing in equipment can strengthen an agency partner’s ability to support neighbors facing hunger.
“This collaboration is a powerful example of how working together creates real, lasting impact, and we’re excited to see how this truck helps Network continue its vital work of feeding our community,” she said.
Mark, a volunteer who also receives food at Network, said he’s grateful for staples and healthy items, like produce. He added that it’s also a treat when retail partners donate bakery items, which is not something he would splurge on at the store.
“One time I received lemon pie, which is one of my favorites,” he said.
The post Network of Community Ministries Expands Reach with New Box Truck first appeared on North Texas Food Bank.]]>
Mark takes extra care in directing neighbors to a staff member if they arrive at Network of Community Ministries’ pantry without an appointment to shop.
As the volunteer at the check-in point, Mark wants to ensure that they can complete the intake process and return later to pick up food. “I have compassion and empathy for them because I’m a client, too,” he says.
A former public accountant, Mark suffered two heart attacks in recent years and now lives on disability benefits in a group home.
“I’m very grateful this is here, very grateful,” he says. “They always have stuff that I need, whether it’s canned vegetables and fruit, red beans and rice, or spaghetti—they always have those staples that are really great.”
Mark adds that he occasionally receives a cookie or single slice of pie through retail grocery donations given to Network. “One time I received lemon pie, which is one of my favorites but it’s so expensive,” he says.
Mark says while on disability, he needs to volunteer to meet the work requirements of his group home and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, since he receives SNAP benefits.
“Even though I was forced into volunteering, I have to say that I really like it,” he says. “I feel like I’m giving back and helping out. It just feels good, especially since I’m also a client.”
Mark adds that when a new resident moves in where he lives, he’s always quick to refer them to Network if they need assistance. “I’m not going to let anyone go hungry,” he says.
The post Volunteer finds purpose and support at Network of Community Ministries first appeared on North Texas Food Bank.]]>
Shelida knew there was a market for her homemade bath and beauty products. But as a single mom living paycheck to paycheck while working part-time, she didn’t have the time or resources to grow her business and career.
She was encouraged to apply for the new Whole & Empowered program at Harmony CDC, a North Texas Food Bank agency partner in South Dallas, and a year later, Shelida says she found not only stability but also direction.
“The program helped me excel and just find my way,” she says.
Champella Hatcher, director of education pathways at Harmony CDC, said their organization has long been known as a “one-stop” shop in Southern Dallas for those needing assistance with food, housing or other support. After ramping up emergency support during the pandemic, they spent the last few years researching the best structure for a program that could support neighbors in moving toward a place of self-sufficiency and ultimately launched Whole & Empowered. Their pilot cohort completed the program in 2025, and with a Hope for Tomorrow grant from NTFB, a second class is underway while applications for a third class have opened. Harmony CDC is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Using the Arizona Self-Sufficiency Matrix as a model, Harmony CDC built their yearlong program that includes three components: counseling to look at the past and examine root causes of the present, case management to determine what supports are needed to gain stability, and life coaching to help neighbors envision their future and then build a plan for moving toward it.
A stipend for childcare is provided to ensure participants—for now all single women working at least part-time—can attend classes. Financial education is included and all participants are given support in career development, whether financial assistance completing a certification, coaching in marketing and building their own business or otherwise.
“We do a deep dive,” says Lisa Ratcliff, the program’s life coach, a position funded by the NTFB grant. “A lot of our clients operate in survival mode. We want them to move beyond that.”
For Shelida, the financial and life coaching was transformational. She earned a certificate in personal training and is now completing a certificate in nutrition coaching. As she grew personally, she was able to secure a full-time, better paying job at the same healthcare company where she’d worked part-time. And with her increased income, she now has the money to fund her personal beauty business, Star Essentials, while working toward launching another business utilizing her new certifications.
Along with support in building a better future, Shelida said it’s the relationships with Harmony CDC staff and her peers in the program that made all the difference.
Denise, who is part of the second class completing the Whole & Empowered program, agreed. She said she wakes up each morning to text messages in her class’s group chat. They might be encouraging one another about something small—like mastering their own hairstyles to save money at the salon—or celebrating something major, such as purchasing a car they saved up for or completing a degree.
“It’s nice to have a group of women who want to help others,” she said, adding that she applied for the program after a divorce and a difficult year financially. “I love being part of the community.”
Champella said it’s early in the life of the program, but results are promising so far. In the pilot group that Shelida was a part of, 100% of participants were housing and food stable at the end of the program. Sixty percent had achieved an increase in income and 40% had achieved entrepreneurship or a certification that can lead to better pay.
“In this neighborhood, it’s a lot of repeat people coming to us for food assistance,” Champella says. “I’m hoping that as we grow this program, they can see for themselves that change is possible.”
The post Harmony CDC is Working to Transform the Community, One Neighbor at a Time first appeared on North Texas Food Bank.]]>